Johnson announces wellness initiative

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, speaks with Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14:  Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, speaks with Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida.  (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, speaks with Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — As part of his continuing commitment to K-12 public education, Jimmie Johnson announced Friday the Inaugural Wellness Challenge championed by the Jimmie Johnson Foundation.

The Wellness Challenge will consist of four events in North Carolina this year: a 5K on Apr. 27 in Huntersville; the Lake Norman Excursion (a 5K run and multi-distance bike ride) on July 12 in Mooresville; the Cane Creek Sprint Triathlon on Aug. 19 in Waxhaw; and the Lake Davidson Sprint Triathlon on Sept. 7 in Davidson.

In staging these events, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, branding itself as TeamJJF, has partnered with Cool Breeze Cyclery, which operates in three Charlotte-area locations.

“We have a great fundraiser in California — a golf tournament — and it’s been extremely successful,” Johnson said Friday during the announcement in the Daytona International Speedway media center. “The fundraising takes place in California, and with us living in North Carolina, we just felt like we needed to put on an event, or some events, in North Carolina to do fundraising there.”

Johnson observes an extremely athletic lifestyle that includes distance running, swimming and cycling. He and wife Chani decided to model the Wellness Challenge after their own interests.

“We just felt like there was a great way to tie in fitness, wellness, making sure that you’re healthy and active … from a beginner all the way to an advanced athlete.”

For more details, visit www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org.

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.